On 28 May 2007 at 4:04, K2RQ wrote: > 3. What's wrong with the K2 for cw contesting (IMHO) > > A. The QSK is almost worthless. At the first setting above ., you > just can't hear between the dits and dahs. And at zero, it's too > noisy. > > B. Every time I change antennas (even on the same band), I have to > depress the TUNE button so that I can get "stable" qrp output (5 > watts). This is an extra step I did hundreds of time this weekend. It > is now 2nd nature, but a royal pain (yes, all my antenna are resonant, > but just not "the same" according to the K2. > > C. The AGC is not set up correctly. Weak signals are, well, too weak > (audio) and strong signals blow my ears off. The AF knob is my > friend...but I don't want it to be. > >
I think there will be many many on this reflector who will strongly disagree with your comments. OK, the K2 isn't perfect but most of us have never had the problems you mention... I had a little play in WPX, mainly to fill some band slots for my 2007 totals. Conditions were mixed, very little in the way of real DX but excellent sporadic E conditions into Europe on 10m and 15m. Only 334 QSOs, but was really only doing it seriously for the last 12 hours or so. I have used the K2, barefoot at 5W, many times in contests over the years. It works great for me. The QSK is not ideal in that you cannot hear between dots, but it is perfectly adequate for hearing what is going on when you are calling. I have no problems with switching noise. I NEVER touch the Tune button - my long wire was tuned with the KAT2 when I last made antenna changes some years ago and it remains tuned just as I like it. On changing bands there is a momentary delay while the rf level adjustment makes its decisions, hardly noticeable. On the lower bands where the antenna is fairly narrow band I have to give the power level control a gentle tweak to trigger it to do a re- power adjust if I move an appreciable distance in frequency. Other than that, it works just as it should. I have never noticed problems with AGC. Maybe you have a fault with your K2?? 73 Dave G3YMC http://www.davesergeant.com _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
